To settle lawsuit, US immigration agencies to revamp way Mexicans informed of right to hearing

SAN DIEGO – As part of a lawsuit settlement, U.S. immigration authorities must revamp their practices to ensure Mexicans accused of living in the country illegally are clearly informed of their right to a hearing before an immigration judge.

The American Civil Liberties Union announced the details of the settlement on Wednesday to its lawsuit filed in Los Angeles in June 2013 on behalf of nine Mexican nationals and three organizations.

The lawsuit alleges U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Southern California routinely have told Mexican immigrants they could face months in jail while their cases are decided. It also accuses them of falsely informing immigrants that they can easily arrange legal status once they're back in Mexico.

The lawsuit alleges authorities would push immigrants to sign their own expulsion orders.